IVR Technology Group (ITG), a provider of intelligent voice response solutions, and Fundtech, a provider of transaction banking solutions, today announced a partnership that expands the functionality of ITG's IVR Pay-by-Phone virtual terminal. As a result of this partnership end users can turn any push button telephone into their own virtual payment processing terminal by using Fundtech's TotalTransact credit card gateway technology.

The IVR Pay-by-Phone gateway combines automated call handling capability with credit card processing to offer a complete payment solution. A significant benefit to businesses using the Pay-by-Phone virtual terminal is the ability to certify in accordance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard that the system does not store, process, or transmit payment card data over the VoIP network.

By working with Fundtech's Total Transact credit card gateway, users of the IVR Pay-by-Phone virtual terminal can pay bills via credit/debit card or eCheck and have the transaction processed and completed in real time.

Newton Medical Center in Newton, Kan., is one of the first users of this combined solution. "We are always looking for ways to improve the experience people have with our hospital," said Melanie Hanna, Newton Medical's patient services director, in a statement. "Our patients now have a fast and convenient way to pay their medical bills by using the ITG-Fundtech solution."

According to Danne Buchanan, Fundtech's executive vice president, the company's partnership with ITG "provides a valuable convenience to end users, and therefore helps the merchants who use it to be the preferred provider."

Mike Byrne, CEO of ITG, added, "We are excited that this partnership will allow us to continue to grow opportunities together. It will also reduce costs associated with PCI DSS and costs of a live agent handling those electronic payments over the phone."